Drying apparatus



Dec. 31, 1935. E. D, PURKETT DRYING APPARATUS Filed May 11, l1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www Dec. 31, 1935. E, D. PURKETT 2,026,189

DRYING APPARATUS Filed May l1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 waa/Mofa f5 @M4205 PM2/11577 Patentes oec. ai, 193s' f 2,026,189

'UNITED .STATES PATENT osi-ics intruso.` APPARATUS- Edward D. Purlxett, Joplin, Mo., dassignor'to i Purkett Laundry Company, Joplin, Mo.

Application May 11, 1933, Serial`No. 670,603 I 'z claims. (o1. a45) This invention relates to drying apparatus, and In the drawings I have shown one embodiment more particularly to drying tumblers for laundry of the invention. In this showing: use. l Figure 1 is a front elevation,

In my copending application Serial No. 662,159, Figure 2 is a side elevation,

led March 22,- 1933,I have discloseda novel form FigureA 3 is an enlarged central vertical sec- 5 of laundry shake-'out tumbler in the form ofk a tional view. taken axially through the drying cylinder having a large axial opening through drum, parts being shown in elevation, and,` which `the clothes are introduced and removed. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view 'I'he tumbler is adapted to be revolved either with on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

` 19 the axis horizontal or slightly inclined with the Referring to the drawings, the numerals I0 10 axial o ening facing upwardly, during which and II designate forward and rear pairs of standoperation the clothes are tumbled in the drum to ards supported upon a suitable base structure I2. loosen or shake them out. The tumbler is then The elements forming the standards and base. adapted to assume a position with the axis inmay be made in any desired structural form, and clinedin the opposite direction whereby the axial it is preferred that channel iron members be em- 15 opening faces downwardly, and during rotation ployed for the standards and angle iron members of the tumbler in such position, the clothes are for the base structure. Set screws I3 having lock elevated and fall through the axial opening withnuts I4 are threaded through the corner portions out handling. Y of the base structure in order that the apparatus` The present invention embodies the same genmay be adjusted within reasonable limits as to 20 eral principle of operation of the tumbler except height, and may be level. l that it provides means for heating and drying the Intermediate their height, the forward and rear l, clothes. Accordingly, an important object of the standards are connected by channel iron braces invention is to provide a drying apparatus par- I5, and the two rear standards I I are connected ticularly adapted for use in laundries wherein the by a similar brace I6. I'hese braces may be con- 25 introduction of clothes into the drier and the renected to their associated standards II in any moval of the clothes therefrom is greatly facilisuitable manner. In the drawings, the braces tatecl without danger incident to the necessity I5 are shown connected to the braces I6-by gusset for the handling of hot yclothes by laundry plates I1, while similar plates I8- connect the operators. braces-I6 to the standards II. The upper endsy of 3o y A further object is to provide a rotating perfothe standards II are connected by a channel iron vrated or screened drum adapted to contain the brace or cross member I9 and the upper. end of clothes and to provide heating means for the dryeach standard I0 is connected to the upper end ing drum, the apparatus involving novel struc- 'of one of the standards II by a horizontal brace tural features which facilitate the placing of the 20. 35

clothes in the drier and the discharging of the It will be apparent that the standards and asclothes therefrom. sociated elements form a supporting frame work A further object is to provide air circulating the forward portion 0f Which iS Open Since the means for the drier having a stationary take-oil Standards l0 are not Connected t0 each other. In

stack normally connected to the apparatus, the Such open space a casing indicated as a whole by 40 drying means being tiltable to a discharging posithe numeral 2| iS afranged- This Casing includes tion disconnected from the stack without disturba' Cylindrical mpelfforat outer Wall 22 and a' ing the latten rear wall 23 arranged at right angles to the axis h t -d mn drum -of the wall 22. The forward portion of the casing 'A fmt er obJec 1s to prow e a' g is provided with av relatively wide conical ring 24 45 forming a relatively large central opening 25 for a ble to a second position to dlscha'rge clothes there purpose to be described. The conical ring 24 may from, the drier including a heat retaining casing surrounding the dryingdrum andl provided with .31556 (lrg llgcgz, by suitable a' movable, coYer adapted to be Open-ed when the- The casing 2I`is supported in a substantially U- 50 drum is 1 its second Position to permit the shaped member 26, which maybe fonned of chan.- clothes to be discharged. therefromnel iron, asshown. The member 26 includes abase Other objects and advantages of the invention pcm-,ion 21 extending across and secured tu the will become apparent during the course of `the casing wall 23, and parallel arm portions exfollowing description. tending across opposite portions of the cylindrical 55 4 5' normally rotatable in a, given position and tiltawall 22 and secured thereto.' The arm portions 28 carry trunnions 29, as shown in detail in Figure 4, and these trunnions are supported in sub- Vto stantially .U-syhaped bearings 30 carried by the standards I0. The-bearings 30 may be welded or otherwise secured to the standards l0 as will pose to be described. The casing 2| is provided .1

with a suitable handle 30' to facilitate movement of the casingin the manner to be described.

The opening 25 of the casing is provided with Y a cover 3| having conical edge .portions 32 fitting the conical 'ring 24. The cover 3| is supported by a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending. arms 33 connected to each other by a transversely extending channel iron member 34 arranged against and secured to the cover 3l. The arms 33 carry stub shafts 35 at their upper ends journaled in bearings 36 supported'on the upper ends of the standards I0. Each arm 33 is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending weight supporting arm 31, and a weight 38 is slidable on each arm 31 and adapted to be secured in adjusted positions thereon by a set screw 39. The

weights 38 serve as counterweights for the coverk i and slightly spaced from the conical ring 24 of the casing. The entire tumbler is slightly spaced from the various walls of the casing 2| for a purpose to be described. The center of the conical wall 44 forms a relatively large opening 45 through which clothes or other articles are introduced into or discharged from the tumbler. While the wall 42 has been described as being perforat` ed, it will be apparent that the invention is not in v'any sense limited to the particular structure shown, since a portion or all of the wall 42 may be provided with screening for a purpose to be described.

The rear wall 43 of the tumbler is provided with a hub member 46 having radial spiders 41, and -the hub and spiders are secured to the wall 43. 'I'he hub member 46 is provided with a hollow trunnion 48 within which is keyed a shaft 49. The shaft 49 transmits rotary movement to the tumbler and power for such rotation is furnished by a suitable motor 59 supported with respect to the U-shaped member 26. Reduction gearing of any desired type is connected between the motor 50 and the shaft 49. In the present in Meansv are provided for forcing heated air.

through the casing )2l and through the tumbler 4|. A heater 51 of -any desired type is arranged beneath the casing 2|, and the latter is provided with an opening 458 through which heated air` may pass upwardly through the casing. The

heater 51 is preferably provided with electrical heating elements therein (notshown) and the. heated air is forced upwardly into the casing by means of a suitable fan 59. 'Ihis fan. is driven ,by a motor 6|) supported by the heater casing 51 5 by suitable brackets 6|.

A stack connection 62 is supported upon the cross member I9 and is secured thereto by suitable brackets 63. The upper end.of the stack connection is adapted to be connected to a suitable 1o stack to carry oi heated air passing from the casing 2|. This casing normally occupies the position shown in Figure 3 and is provided with an outlet flue 64 which normally is arranged substantially horizontally. The flue 64 extends l5 into a conical inlet 65 formed in the lower end of the stack connection 62 and the swinging movement of thel casing 2| about the axis of the trunnions 29 in one direction is limited by contact between the elements 64 and 65.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The casing 2l is fixed against rotation with respect to the axis of the shaft 49 bythe arrangement of\the trunnions 29 in their bearings, but it will be apparent that the casing may swing 2 5 about theaxis of the trunnions. The tumbler 4| rotates on the axis of the shaft 49 and is driven by such shaft through the medium of the motor, worm" 52 and worm wheel 53. Assuming that the tumbler 4| is being rotated in the manner referred 30 `to and it is desired to load the tumbler, the operator swings the cover 3| to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. It will be noted that the weight arms 31 project upwardly ata relativesubstantially to horizontal position under which 4.0 v

condition the weights overbalance the cover to hold it in open position.

The clothes or other articles are then dumped into the tumbler through the axial ,opening in the conical wall 44, whereupon the cover 3| is 45 again moved to closed position. The rotation of the tumbler 4| about the axis of the shaft 49 causes the articles in the tumbler to be constantly lifted and dropped at Aone side thereof, and this action tends to shake or loosen the clothes to facilitate the drying thereof.

Air is heated in the heating device 51, and the motor operates the fan 59 to cause an upward draft of heated air to pass into the casing 2|. As previously stated, the walls .of the casing 2| are 55 relatively close to the walls of the tumbler 4 l, and the space thus provided between these two units, while substantially continuous around the tumbler 4|, is insu'icient for the passage of all of the heated air to the top of the casing 2|. Ac- 00 cordingly a substantial portion of the air is forced to pass upwardly through the perforations -of the tumbler 4| to intimately'contact with the articles therein, The air passing around the tumbler 4| maintains the latter in a heated condition and 05 the drying action is carried out relativelyrapidly through the contact of the articles with the heated walls of the tumbler and in contact with the heated air passing through the.perforations of the tumbler. The heated air containing the moisture of evaporation from the wet articles passes upwardly from ,the top of the casing 2| through the nue s4 and thence out of the bunding through the stack connection 62 and the stack associated therewith. ,Accordingly it will be apaccedas e vided.

-The discharging of clothing or other articles fromthe tumbler-4| is greatly facilitated with the present apparatus. `When a bundle of clothing or other articles has been suitably dried, thecover 3| is swung upwardly to the ldotted line position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the handle 30 is grasped to swing the casing 22 in a clockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. Under such conditions, the upper extremity of the opening 45 will lie horizontally out `wardly of the lower extremity of such opening,

and during the continued rotation of the tumbler 4I, articles 'within the tumbler will be elevated in much the same manner as is true during the drying operation except thatas ythe clothes fall by gravity, they fall through the opening 45 tov` be thus discharged from the tumbler into a basket or other portable receptacle. After the tumbler is unloaded, it is again swung to the operative positionshown in solid lines in Figure 3,-

whereupon it is loaded with wet clothing, and the cover 3l is moved to the closed position. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present apparatus provides a particularly ecient drying action due tosthe proper distribution oi` heated air around and through the -tumbler and due tothe tumbler action which tends constantly to shake or loosen the clothing to facilitate the drying action. The apparatus may be readily loaded with wet clothing and d ry clothing may be ydischarged therefrom Without being directly handled by the operator, and the danger of burns with the present types of laundry drying apparatus is substantially eliminated. The operation of the cover 3| is readily carried out due to the simple movement required and the counterbalancing of the door or cover, and the counterweights 38 hold the door in open position when moved to such position.` 'Ihe weight of the door` and the arms 33 overbalance the counterwelghts 29 are overbalanced to bias such parts to the nor-I.

mal position shown in solid lines in Figure 3, the weight' of the motor 50 and associated parts be- ,ing usually sufficient for this purpose; In any installations where the motor and transmission are insufficient to bias the casing 2| to normal position, additional counterweighting maybe employed. In other Words,l when the parts are in the position. shown in Figure 2 and in the solid line position shown in Figure 3, the common axis of the trunnions 29 is arranged to the right of the center of gravity of the parts which rotate bodily around the axis of the trunnions 29, and accordingly `theparts remain in the position referred to without the use of any latching or fastening means.

It is to'be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of ythe sameand that various changes in the shape, size and ar` rangement of parts may be resorted to without -3 departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sbjoined claims.

Iclaim: 1. Drying apparatus comprising a cylindrical foraminate article holder having a relatively large 5 opening in one side thereof, a cylindrical casing surrounding said article holder and provided with a relatively large opening arranged adjacent and registering with the opening in said article holder and substantially in a common plane thereyvith, a cover for said openings, means for circulating a heating medium through said casing,

a motor carried by said casing for rotating said article holder on an axis passing through said openings at right angles thereto, means between the ends of said casing for supporting said casing on a, pivot axis transverse tosaid first namd axis to permit said casing and s'aid article hglder to swing to a position with said openings inclined with respect to the vertical and horizontal and facing downwardly, said casing being provided' right angles to and passing through said openings, a cover for said openings, and means for supporting said casing on a pivot axis transverse to said first named axis and intermediate the ends of said casing to permit said unit to tilt to a position with said openings inclined-tothe vertical and horizontal and facing downwardly,

said pivot axis being arranged to one side of 'i the center of gravity of said unit to bias the latter to a position with said openings inclined from the vertical and facing upwardly.

3. Drying apparatus comprisinga foraminate article holder, a casing surrounding said article holder, means for circulating a heating medium through said casing and said article holder, said casing and lsaid article holder being provided with adjacent registering openings, a cover for the opening in said casing, a bearing carried by said casing, a shaft rotatable in said bearing and connected to saidarticle holder, said bearing having its axis arranged'at right angles to and passing through said openings, a motor carried by said casing for rotating said shaft, and means for supporting said casing on afpivot axis transverse to said rst named axis and between the ends of said casing to permit said casing to tilt tofa position with said openings inclined to the vertical and horizontal and facing dow'n- 60 wardly, said pivot axis being arranged to one side of the vertical plane of the center of gravity of said casing, said article holder and said motor, whereby said casing is biased from said rst named position to a position .with said openings inclined from the vertical in the opposite direction. i

4. Drying apparatus comprising a foraminate article holder, a casing surrounding said article holder, said casing and said-article holder beingprovided with adjacent registering openings, a cover for the opening in said casing, meansl for rotating said article holder on an axis at right angles to and passing through said openings, means for supporting said casing on a pivot axis casing to'tilt toa position withA said openings inclined to the vertical and horizontal and facing downwardly, said casing being biased from said first named position to a position with said openings inclinedfrom lthe vertical in the opposite direction, said casing being provided with a bottom opening,V heating means carried by said casing forv forcing a heated mediumv into said casing through said bottom opening, the top of said casing being provided with an outlet opening for the heating medium, and a stationary stack connection having an inlet opening normally arranged against a portion of the upper end of said casing and communicating with said outlet opening when said casing is in said second named position.

5.x Drying apparatus comprising a foraminate article-holder, a casing surrounding said article holder, Asaid casing and said article holder` being provided with adjacent registering openings, a cover for the opening in said casing, means vfor rotating said article holder on an axis at right angles to and passing through said openings, means for supporting said casing on a pivot axis transverse toA said first named axis to permit said casing to tilt to a position with said openings inclined'to the vertical and facing downwardly, said casing being biased to a position with said openings inclined from the vertical in the opposite direction, said casing being provided with a bottom opening, means for forcing a heating medium into said casing through said opening,`

the top of said casing being provided with an outlet Aopening for the heating medium, and a stationary stack connection having an inlet openacadien transverse tosaid ilrst named axis-to permit said ing normally arranged against a. portion of the` upper end of said casing and communicating with said outlet opening, said casing-being slightly sp'aced from said article holder to provide a passage for the heating medium of insuicient cross-sectional area to permit the passage therethereto, means for supporting said casing onA a pivot axis transverse to said rst named axis to permit said casing and said article holder to swing to a position with said openings inclined with respect to the vertical and horizontal and facing downwardly, a cover for the opening in said casing,y and means for pivotally supporting said cover independently of said casing for movement to an open position out of the path of movement of said casing around said pivot axis.

7. Apparatus constructed in accordance with vclaim 6 wherein the weight of said cover is adapted to hold it in closed position, said cover being provided with biasing means for holding it in open position when moved to such position.

D. PURKETT. 

